The Camping Trip
Shoujo Kakumei Utena: The Hidden Chapters

Haruka & Kiryuu

Chapter 4

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This is our first attempt at an Utena fic. We haven't even done ones on our own :)

Our disclaimer: We've only seen to episode 29, so don't bug us. We don't own the characters (Though we wish We did... Utena locked in our basement in Chains... heh heh) Saito Chiho and the Be-PaPas own them, though. This is fanfiction and may not follow the 'Ways of the Ohtori World'. If things are a little different, just remember: It's just fanfiction. Not the end of the world.

I made a funny. (And didn't mean to.)

Wanna add more, Ruka?

Nah, you've pretty much summed it up. Oh, wait a minute, yeah, one thing. Like usual, we don't want this fic posted anywhere else, okay? Thanks.

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In Order of appearance..
Characters ..
Played by
-----------------------
Anthy....... Michiru
Utena ....... Haruka
Juri ........ Michiru
Touga ....... Michiru
Saionji ..... Haruka
Miki ........ Haruka

Other appearances by:
Guidance Councilor .... Michiru
Kozue.................. Michiru

Guest Appearances
Sumire....... Michiru
Kanna........ Haruka
Kouran....... Haruka
Iris......... Michiru
Orihime...... Haruka

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(Anthy)

"Oh, goodness," Anthy put a hand to her mouth. "Did I say that aloud? Uchi!"

[[Note from Kouran: Now _wait_ just a darn minute ....]]

(Miki)

Standing up uneasily, Miki looked mournfully down at his bag. "I guess none of us can eat the fiddleheads - they're coated in the poison ivy oil."

[[Note from Anthy: I thought I knew that word from somewhere! Hello myself from another anime! Purple hair and glasses too! *smile*]]

(Anthy)

"Do you think we could wash them?"

(Juri)

"Probably not, and they're no good unless they're cooked anyway. Sorry Miki. Yech," Juri added as another leech dropped off. "At least I can put my jacket back on."

(Anthy)

"We have some raspberries," Anthy said, hoping no one liked them.

(Miki)

"Raspberries! Thank goodness, we won't starve." He fought the urge to scratch every inch of skin he owned and moved to click his stopwatch - only to find he didn't have it. He looked all around, but it was nowhere to be found. "AUUUUUUUUGH!" he cried in horrified realization. "I dropped my stopwatch back in the poison ivy patch!!!!!!!"

(Juri)

Juri felt sort of sorry for Miki, but she was miserable enough to not care that much. The places the little bloodsuckers had fed hurt. And she was composed enough to feel humiliated... They had all seen her freak... Her fellow student council members... the accursed Rose Bride... UTENA....

(Touga)

Touga felt amused. Miki was practically writhing in itchiness and the stupid stopwatch was gone. "We can ask Saionji to get it for you when he gets back," he grinned, imagining Saionji scratching after getting the watch back.

(Utena)

"Touga, that's terrible!" Utena admonished, trying not to blush from shame. The idea _did_ sound like fun.

(Miki)

"I agree!" Miki said as he tried to get to his feet. "I will not be a party to such a thing." He paused, then looked at Touga. "You really think he'd do it?" he said, trying not to smile.

[[Note from Saionji: And I hate all of you.]]

(Touga)

Touga smiled. "Yes, he probably would, if just to try and impress the Rose Bride with how nice he's being."

(Anthy)

Anthy didn't say anything but thought it was mean. She wasn't fond of Saionji sempai, but wouldn't wish that sort of thing even on Nanami.

[[Note from Nanami: Thank you.... I think...]]

[[Note from Miki: Watch out for falling elephants, everyone.]]

(Utena)

"Speaking of Saionji, hasn't he been gone an awfully long time? He could be lost in the woods."

[[Note from Utena: Technically, he's been lost in the woods his whole life ....]] [[Note from Saionji: You're as funny as a leech. Right, Juri? *snicker*]] [[Note from Anthy: Do you think he's ok, Utena sama?]]

(Juri)

"I'm going to get my tent set up," she said absently, still burning from humiliation. Pulling the small canvas tent out, she began to set it up, then stopped and stared at it. There were great holes in the canvas, and she could plainly see Utena through one. "What the hell?" her voice rose through the forest, causing birds to fly away, calling their distress.

[[Note from Utena: Dumbass has never been okay before this, Anthy - I don't expect he's any better now.]]

(Miki)

Looking over from his misery with the poison ivy and lack of his stopwatch, Miki stared at the ruined tent. "Oh no. You're not going to be able to live in that, Juri." He blushed. "And it wouldn't be right for you to stay with me - not unless we were able to take turns getting changed inside the tent alone."

(Utena)

"Maybe Touga could be a gentleman and give up his tent to Juri and _he_ could share with you, Miki," Utena said sweetly, smiling at Touga.

(Touga)

He snorted. "No, but she can use the second room in the tent. I can put my supplies into the living half of the tent."

(Juri)

With a flat eyed look, Juri commented, "Rooms."

(Touga)

"There are three rooms in the tent. Half is a 'living room' of sorts, and then there are two bedrooms."

(Juri)

"Good grief."

(Utena)

Staring in disbelief, Utena shook her head. Leave it to Touga to bring an actual SUITE of tent-rooms with him on a camping trip!

(Saionji)

Meanwhile, out in the woods, Saionji was FAR from lost (so there.) On the contrary, he was keeping very careful track of where he went, being the superior woodsman that he was.

[[Note from Utena: Where's the shovel to dig ourselves out from under this pile of ....]] [[Note from Miki: Utena-san!]]

In his exploration, he had even managed to find something that he could use to get revenge on Ugly Tomboy - but he couldn't bring it with him, not yet. He would have to return to camp first. So he followed the sound of Juri's screeching and headed back.

(Anthy)

Anthy sat down on the ground and went about trying to make a new fire. She had covered some of the wood and grass in plastic when it looked like rain, so it was dry. She wished she'd remembered that earlier. Wisps of smoke signaled trough the clearing as a small lick of flame flickered to life. he carefully fed it into a respectable flame that would likely be hot enough that wet wood would burn.

(Saionji)

"I have returned!" Saionji announced as he stepped into the campsite.

(Utena)

"YAY!"

(Saionji)

The handsome young man turned toward Ugly Tomboy in shock. Could it be she had finally learned how to appreciate his greatness? "Why, thank you!" he said, tossing back his hair.

(Utena)

Huh? Utena looked over at Saionji and blinked, then realized what he was thinking and laughed. "Not _you_!" she said. "I was cheering for Anthy! She got the fire going again!"

(Juri)

"I am so glad this day is almost over," she muttered, looking out at the setting sun. "Just Saturday and half of Sunday to go." She cursed the fact they got Saturday off school for the trip.

(Anthy)

"It's burning nicely now," she smiled up at Utena. "We'll be able to roast weenies and marshmallows now."

(Touga)

"And cook food. We have to rig up some sort of shelter for it so if it rains we keep the fire." he added, a bit amused on how people were ignoring Saionji.

(Saionji)

So _this_ is how they treated him, was it? For all they knew, he could have been lost or hurt in the woods and it appeared no one had even missed him, not even Touga! Well, maybe the 'present' he'd found for Ugly Tomboy should be a group gift after all.

(Touga)

"It took you long enough to get back. You missed all the fun," he chuckled.

(Juri)

"Leeches aren't fun."

(Touga)

"You running around in circles, half naked, screaming your head off is. By the way, Saionji, Miki lost his stopwatch in a small clearing not far from here. He's in a bit of pain right now, so could you go get it? It's in a bunch of fiddle heads, back that way," he pointed from where Miki had come from.

(Saionji)

Juri had leeches? Saionji thought in amazement. And Miki lost his stopwatch? Obviously the world had come to an end in his absence. What would these people do without him? "All right," he said with a sniff. "Try not to burn down the forest while I'm gone."

[[Note from Saionji: Don't anyone ever dare say that I'M not a good sport! I'm walking into your stupid trap for the sake of humour in this stupid story even though I think it makes me look stupid!]] [[Note from Utena: That's it, Dumbass, just be yourself ....]] [[Note from Anthy: Tee hee... oh dear...]]

(Touga)

"We won't," he called out to Saionji. He could be such a sucker...

(Juri)

"I hate wilderness."

(Anthy)

"At least there's a river nearby we can swim in. And we should try and catch fish. It's sunset, which is the best time to catch them, Utena sama."

(Utena)

"Sure, why not? Sounds like fun! At least we _did_ bring fishing poles." She looked at the others. "Anyone else want to come?"

(Juri)

With a snort, she shook her head. "I'd probably fall in, with my luck. No, you two go have fun."

(Anthy)

Anthy finished putting the supplies together and quietly stood behind Utena.

(Touga)

"No, thanks. You go ahead. Catch a bunch. We'll keep the fire going and get other stuff ready to cook. We'll have a big meal."

(Utena)

"Okay then, let's go, Anthy!" Utena said, and headed for the river.

(Saionji)

Having found the patch of fiddleheads, Saionji spotted Miki's accursed stopwatch right away. He didn't understand what could have possibly driven the boy to lose this thing that was practically part of his anatomy, but if Anthy would think he was a nice guy by returning it, there was no reason not to. He pushed aside some of the shiny plants around it and picked it up, half-hoping it was broken. It wasn't. Strange ... why was he itching suddenly?

(Anthy)

Anthy reeled in her third fish in 5 minutes. "They're biting tonight, Utena sama!" Anthy smiled happily. It was nice to spend time away from the others -- even Miki. She didn't know if it was the Rose Bride thing or not, but she much preferred spending time with Utena over anyone else. Utena saw her as a person, not an object.

[[Note from Touga: Bo-o-oring. Who in their right mind would want to read mushy, sentimental crud like this?]] [[Note from Iris: Iris think it sweet! *BOOM* *Touga flies a few hundred feet*]] [[Note from Touga: *clears throat* AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]] [[Note from Orihime: Hmmph! Japanese men! Good work, Iris!]]

(Utena)

"Yeah, this is a great spot!" Utena laughed as she pulled in another fish. She smiled at Anthy, enjoying the private time they were having together. She was glad none of the others had come. When they were around, she felt on edge and defensive. It wasn't so bad with Miki, but even he had challenged her for Anthy, and she was still a bit wary so long as he wore the rose seal. "You know, Anthy," she said, "in spite of everything, I'm glad we came on this trip. This is fun." She held up the fish. "And we'll be able to eat now, too!"

(Saionji)

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Running while scratching didn't help the itch, but yelling at the top of his lungs did. At least it vented his frustration. NOW he knew why Miki had been scratching! It had been a trap, and the whole lot of them had let him walk into it, even Anthy! There would be no mercy when he wrecked his revenge!

(Touga)

After brushing himself off, (Hmmph), he carefully gathered the fiddleheads up and put them in a pot of water. He figured a good washing would take care of them, and then they'd be boiled for awhile anyway.

(Anthy)

Anthy smiled happily at Utena. "I'm glad we got away from everyone, " she said quietly. "There's always a rivalry around the group of them, amongst themselves and with you. I wish we had come alone," she blushed slightly as she said it.

(Miki)

"Touga, your hands are contaminated now!" Miki warned the Student Council President.

(Saionji)

"Here's your stupid stopwatch!" Saionji stomped into camp and practically threw the thing at Miki. "I do NOT appreciate your idea of a joke. I am now going to the river to wash off this oil so I don't spread it around." He left the camp again with all the dignity he could muster while scratching the skin off his hands.

(Touga)

"No, they're not," Touga said, holding up gloved hands. "Hey there, Saionnnnnji... Okaaaay. By Saionji."

[[Note from Touga: Hey, give me a break... It's not my turn yet.]]

(Anthy)

Anthy laughed as she tried to pull the crayfish off her line without getting pinched. "This was a funny thing to catch, Utena sama!"

(Utena)

The pink-haired girl chuckled. "Almost as funny as the frog jumping into the tackle box!" She reached out and petted the little frog that didn't seem to be in any hurry to hop away since being rescued from the tackle box.

(Saionji)

Oh great, Ugly Tomboy was already at the river, Saionji noted. He certainly didn't want _her_ to suspect what he was there for! He would have to be strong and not scratch at all in her presence. Allowing himself one last scratch, he walked up behind the two girls. "Hello, Anthy," he began, ignoring Ugly Tomboy, "how is the -" Before he could continue, there was a loud CROAK under his right foot, and he was so startled he lost his balance and fell in the river with a big splash.

(Utena)

"So much for fishing," Utena put her pole aside.

[[Note from Miki: Okay, I have to say it, Saionji-sempai _is_ being a good sport about this self-inflicted abuse for the benefit of humour.]] [[Note from Utena: Don't be fooled, Miki. He just wants to be the main focus of the story.]] [[Note from Saionji: Sour grapes.]] [[Note from Touga: Shouldn't you be fishing in the lake? Where the leeches are?]]

(Anthy)

"Saionji sempai? Are you all right? You might want to get out of there..."

[[Note from Juri: HA HA.]] [[Note from Anthy: Um, you do know the whole purpose of this is to show Utena sama off? That's why it's called Revolutionary Girl UTENA, right?]] [[Note from Saionji: That title was never MY idea! She gets too much of the attention as it is.]]

(Saionji)

Giving Anthy a patient, albeit wet, smile, Saionji said, "Yes, Anthy, I believe I _should_ get out of the freezing cold water and away from the sharp rocks that are ripping my skin to shreds as we speak. I don't suppose either of you would like to give me a hand?"

[[Note from Utena: *CLAP CLAP*]] [[Note from Leni: It does seem awfully melodramatic.. And overdone.]]

TBC...